In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Allah the Exalted said:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Verily, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, but the remembrance of Allah is greater.
Surat Al-Ankabut 29:45
And Allah said:
فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
Remember Me and I will remember you, be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.
Surat Al-Baqarah 2:152
And Allah said:
وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Remember Allah often that you may succeed.
Surat Al-Jumuah 62:10
And Allah said:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
Remember your Lord in yourselves with humility and in private without announcing it in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless.
Surat Al-A’raf 7:205
And Allah said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him in the morning and evening.
Surat Al-Ahzab 33:41
Abu Musa, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
مَثَلُ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَالْبَيْتِ الَّذِي لَا يُذْكَرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مَثَلُ الْحَيِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ
The example of the house which remembers Allah and the house which does not remember Allah is that of the living and the dead.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 6044, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
كَلِمَتَانِ حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ
Two phrases are beloved to the Most Merciful. They are light on the tongue but heavy on the scale: glory and praise to Allah, and glory to Allah the Almighty.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 7124, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
لَأَنْ أَقُولَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ
To declare the glory of Allah, the praise of Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the greatest is more beloved to me than anything over which the sun rises.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2695, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عَدْلَ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ وَكُتِبَتْ لَهُ مِائَةُ حَسَنَةٍ وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ مِائَةُ سَيِّئَةٍ وَكَانَتْ لَهُ حِرْزًا مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ وَلَمْ يَأْتِ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا جَاءَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَحَدٌ عَمِلَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ فِي يَوْمٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ حُطَّتْ خَطَايَاهُ وَلَوْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ
Whoever declares there is no god but Allah, He is one without partner, to Him is the sovereignty and praise and He is powerful over everything one hundred times a day, then he will have the reward of emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded for him, a hundred sins will be erased from his record, and he will be guarded from the devil during the day until evening. No one will exceed him in except one who recited these words more often. Whoever declares the glory of Allah one hundred times a day, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam of the ocean.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2691, Grade: Sahih
Abu Dharr, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَحَبِّ الْكَلَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الْكَلَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ
Shall I tell you about the most beloved word to Allah? Verily, the most beloved word to Allah is to declare the glory of Allah and His praise.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2731, Grade: Sahih
Abu Malik al-Ash’ari, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الْإِيمَانِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلَأُ الْمِيزَانَ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلَآَنِ أَوْ تَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالصَّلَاةُ نُورٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهَانٌ وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ وَالْقُرْآنُ حُجَّةٌ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَايِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا
Purity is half of faith and the praise of Allah fills the scale, glorification and praise fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is a light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination. The Quran is a proof for you or against you. All people go out early in the morning and sell themselves, either setting themselves free or destroying themselves.
Source: Sahih Muslim 223, Grade: Sahih
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: A desert Arab came to the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and he said, “Teach me some words to say.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
قُلْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
Say: There is no god but Allah without any partner, Allah is the greatest of the great, all praise is due to Allah in abundance, glory be to Allah the Lord of the worlds, there is no power or might but with Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.
The man said, “These words are for my Lord, but what is for me?” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
قُلْ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Say: O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, and provide for me.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2696, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The poor emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, and they said, “The wealthy have taken the highest degrees and blessed stations. They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, they give in charity and we do not have charity to give, they free slaves and we have none to free.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَفَلَا أُعَلِّمُكُمْ شَيْئًا تُدْرِكُونَ بِهِ مَنْ سَبَقَكُمْ وَتَسْبِقُونَ بِهِ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَلَا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَفْضَلَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ صَنَعَ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ
Shall I teach you something by which you will surpass those ahead of you and after you and by which none will be better than you but one who does like you?
They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
تُسَبِّحُونَ وَتُكَبِّرُونَ وَتَحْمَدُونَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِينَ مَرَّةً
Glorify and exalt and praise Allah thirty-three times after every prayer.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2696, Grade: Sahih
Mu’adh ibn Jabal, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, took me by the hand and he said:
يَا مُعَاذُ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّكَ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّكَ أُوصِيكَ يَا مُعَاذُ لَا تَدَعَنَّ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
O Mu’adh, I swear by Allah that I love you. I swear by Allah that I love you. I advise you not to forget supplicating after every prayer by saying: O Allah, help me to remember you, give thanks to you, and worship you in the best manner.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 1522, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Abbas, RadhiAllahu Anhuma, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
فَأَمَّا الرُّكُوعُ فَعَظِّمُوا فِيهِ الرَّبَّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَمَّا السُّجُودُ فَاجْتَهِدُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ فَقَمِنٌ أَنْ يُسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ
As for bowing, you should exalt the Lord Almighty. As for prostration, you should exert yourself in supplications for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.
Source: Sahih Muslim 479, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ
The servant is nearest to his Lord during prostration, so increase your supplications therein.
Source: Sahih Muslim 482, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً
Allah the Exalted says: I am as My servant expects Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, then I will remember him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a gathering, then I will mention him in a greater gathering. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit, and when he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom, and when he comes to Me walking, I will come to him running.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 6970, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abdullah ibn Busr, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: A man said, “Indeed, the laws of Islam are too many for us, so give us something comprehensive we can hold onto.” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah the Exalted.
Source: Musnad Ahmad 17227, Grade: Sahih
Jabir ibn Abdullah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَفْضَلُ الذِّكْرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
The most virtuous remembrance is to declare there is no God but Allah, and the most virtuous supplication is to declare all praise is due to Allah.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3331, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Mas’ud, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
لَقِيتُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَقْرِئْ أُمَّتَكَ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ وَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ طَيِّبَةُ التُّرْبَةِ عَذْبَةُ الْمَاءِ وَأَنَّهَا قِيعَانٌ وَأَنَّ غِرَاسَهَا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
I met Abraham on the night of my ascent and he said: O Muhammad, greet your nation with peace from me and tell them Paradise has pure soil and delicious water, that it is a plain leveled land and its plants grow with the glorification of Allah, the praise of Allah, the declaration there is no God but Allah, and Allah is the greatest.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3462, Grade: Hasan
Abu Ad-Darda, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَزْكَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِنْفَاقِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ وَخَيْرٌ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ
Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions, which are the purest in the sight of your Lord, which exalt you among the ranks, which are better for you than spending gold and silver in charity, and which are better than you meeting the enemy and striking each other?
They said, “Of course!” The Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى
It is the remembrance of Allah the Exalted.
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3377, Grade: Hasan
Abu Musa, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى كَلِمَةٍ هِيَ كَنْزٌ مِنْ كُنُوزِ الْجَنَّةِ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Shall I not tell you about a treasure among the treasures of Paradise? Say: There is no power or might but with Allah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 3910, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.